Beauty retail in the UK is booming between the re-entry of Sephora, the Fragrance Shop’s new venture, Fragrae, and the acquisition of Space NK by Ulta. Now Boots, a trusted brand among Brits, will open a standalone fragrance shop in time for holiday shopping. The plan is to carry over 400 luxury and niche brands.

Gallivant, the independent perfumer brand created by Nick Steward, is the epitome of olfactory armchair travel. Each scent represents a city with a real story based on an experience and moment in time. As the brand readies the launch of the new Gulf Series, Stewart shares his creative philosophy and his passion for discovery and travel.

At a time where North American department stores are shuttering, where Asia and Europe are cautious markets, the Gulf is thriving – and will open 7 new luxury malls by 2027. Prestige Beauty enjoys a 12% growth rate and Fragrance, appreciated and worn enthusiastically by the luxury consumer, accounts for nearly 50% of total sales. It’s a region to watch and where niche brands should be present.

Interparfums enters the world of exclusive, niche perfumery with a new collection of ten fragrances. Named after the street address of the company headquarters, each unisex scent is meant to embody a part of Paris. A freestanding boutique is scheduled to open on the fragrance-centric Rue Saint Honoré in September.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news on the passing of Jean Kerléo. An icon in the fragrance world, Kerléo had been the in-house perfumer at Jean Patou for more than 30 years, creating such masterpieces as 1000 and Sublime. He went on to co-found the Osmothèque, the non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of scent, counting over 3000 fragrances in its archives.

For the past few years more and more extrait, intense and absolute versions of existing fragrances have been hitting the market. Is it based on consumer demand for greater projection? Is it coming from brands who want to justify higher price points? In this article several industry insiders give their take and the reason behind the trend.

In a world of unbridled competition and rising prices, customer service is more valuable than ever before. An apathetic attitude, mediocre engagement and memorized conversation will turn off a consumer who won’t complain but won’t come back. A very interesting essay that for retailers and brands will make you take stock of your selling ritual.

Did you know Spain is the world’s second supplier of fragrance, after France? Its growing importance is evident and was highlighted in the recent Barcelona Perfumery Congress. The two day event blends a traditional tradeshow with educational workshops and conferences where topics ran the gamut from olfactory creation to innovation in perfumery.

It has always been a challenge to sell fragrance online since we still can’t smell through our computers. Nevertheless, E-commerce contributes roughly one third of beauty sales, and not all purchases are replenishment. In this article a consumer psychologist gives insight on the emotional triggers that encourage blind buys.